Overview & Reviews

Toyota is a Japanese brand whose refined, well-designed vehicles have earned it a great deal of popularity. Toyotas also have a superb record for reliability and durability, which goes a long way toward justifying their typically high purchase prices. For buyers who plan on owning their new vehicles for a long time, the Toyota marque is a very compelling choice.

The automaker's name is a variation of the surname of its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. After years of research, Toyoda unveiled his first prototype, the A1, in 1935, marking the birth of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The '40s witnessed the launch of additional passenger cars and even a pickup. By the end of the decade, the automaker had produced more than 100,000 vehicles.

Toyota grew bigger in the '50s and expanded its roster with a slew of new small cars. The company also unveiled the utilitarian BJ truck; this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser. By the end of the decade, Toyota had commenced exports to the U.S. with the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. The first Toyota to be sold on American shores was the Crown; it held the distinction of being the first Japanese car to be sold Stateside.

The '60s witnessed even more growth for the emerging juggernaut. Toyota introduced the Corolla, an immensely popular model that is still in production today. Vehicles like the home-market Publica, the 2000GT, Hiace and Miniace were also launched. The decade closed with Toyota reporting annual domestic sales of 1 million units; cumulative exports also reached 1 million.

Japanese-market cars like the Carina, Light Ace and Publica Starlet were launched during the 1970s. In the States, the Corolla grew in popularity and the Corona and Mk II models debuted as well. The successful Celica sports coupe was also rolled out and would remain in production for more than 30 years. Toyota's shadow had spread far beyond Japan by this point. The decade's oil crisis had made the manufacturer's compact, fuel-efficient models more popular than ever in the United States. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker had exported more than 10 million vehicles.

Toyota expanded its presence in the U.S. market during the '80s, with the introduction of popular models like the 4Runner SUV and the MR2 sports car. The true high point of these years, though, was the birth of the Toyota Camry sedan. Originally known as the Celica Camry in Japan, the car went on to be a hit of phenomenal proportions, earning kudos as America's best-selling car of the year time and time again.

During the '90s, Toyota rolled out the Avalon full-size sedan and expanded its selection of SUVs with the compact RAV4. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Toyota vehicles had been produced in Japan. The company also proved itself on the cutting edge of new technology with the rollout of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The car debuted in Japan in 1997; by 2001, the fuel-sipping sedan had made its way to American highways. Despite the presence of a growing number of competitors in its segment, the Prius continues to boast class-leading sales.

Toyota's current lineup is relatively extensive, including minivans, cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand remains extremely popular among savvy consumers who place a high value on quality and dependability.

User Reviews:

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  My review - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Edge - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Been satisfied so far. No problems.

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  Buy a Tundra - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By mpesce - July 28 - 2:00 am

  This is a solid truck. Very quiet and smooth. My only concern is the transmission. This is now Jan 2004 and my truck is a 2001. Ive noticed in the recent past that a couple of times I stepped on the accelerator and the engine acted like the truck was in neutral. It then kicked into gear with a thump. Other than that, I couldnt be more happy with my decision to buy a Tundra.

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  Happt Owner - 2001 Toyota Sienna
  By larsonfamily - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I have 3 kids and the ability to move the last row of seats forward was fantastic. I can take out the buckets, move the back row forward, and put the dog and tv in and we are ready to travel.

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  Amazing Vehicle - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By EricaK - July 28 - 2:00 am

  The toyota Rav 4 is a very reliable SUV. Not only is it fun to drive, but it handles extremely well in all weather. The RAV4 is my favorite SUV on the market because it is not a large vehicle, the inside has the same amount of room as a car, but the outside is big and off the ground. Being a college student, this is the perfect car for me because of its size and performance.

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  Wouldnt trade it for anything! - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Erica Pink - July 28 - 2:00 am

  This is the richest looking suv without the outrageous prices. I love toyota and couldnt wait until this vehicle was availible. I however had to wait until my past lease was up for my 4- runner before I could actually get my own. I am so happy now, I could not have asked for a better suv and the service we recieved was all worth the 4 hour visit to the dealership. Thank You Lithia Toyota Vacaville!

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  nice car - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By douglass - July 28 - 2:00 am

  the avolon is a nice car but I think the dash board could be made so you can better read the speed that you are going it seems that you are always looking around thw steering wheel to check on speed and gas gauge. perhaps in the future this might be something to look at

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  awesome choice - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By krystina - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I have loved and enjoyed every second in my car! Its an excellent choice!

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  Easy to live with. - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By rplmer - July 28 - 2:00 am

  This is nearly the perfect car. It is quiet, smooth, well built and inexpensive to drive. Its only draw back is it isnt fancy. Not much for little convience things like the temperature gage you have to push a button and see either the time or temperature. What would it cost to have a seperate display, 50 cents or so. If you want a car that will run and run and be nice to drive without a lot of expense you will be hard pressed to do better than this.

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  LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By k - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I love my car!! I bought it certified. No problems whatsover. Could last forever.

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  GO COROLLA - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Tom Zarkos - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I traded in my 2003 Honda Element for the new 2004 Toyota Corolla S Type. The Element was not fuel efficient at all and didnt handle weather conditions well. Also, there were many blind spots in the vehicle especially when you stow the back seats. The moon roof and back windows were too far back to reach. Everything but the front windows and side mirrors was manual. Corolla had it all including daytimer light switch, passenger seat belt alert,moon roof upfront, awesome stereo system, and the look and feel of a luxury car.